What’s so wrong with being funny anyway?  Just maaaaybe some people like the site because its funny here sometimes.  And post count is clearly the MOST IMPORTANT thing we an all aspire to.  In all seriousness, the gamer  stereotype (i.e. embittered mom’s-basement-dwelling porn-addicted autistic wierdos) comes from the ones who have no sense of humour and take it too seriously.

It wasn’t me!

I won’t go into a detailed analysis of the anonymous remarks you quoted, Garg, because I disapprove of their abusive and insulting tone.  I will, however, offer a general comment in response to the feedback you’re requesting – a comment which does in fact have to do with the subject of message tone.

I’ll start by quoting a specific example, then discuss the general principles I think it illustrates.

In the “General > Axis & Allies News > Fortress America re-release soon” thread, FMG asked last July if anyone had news about the release of the new edition of Fortress America.  I replied that I had bought a copy at my local game store.  You then commented that there was no word in Canada yet.  I then remarked that my local game store and I are indeed in Canada.  Your response was, and I quote:

That’s a bold face LIE!

I kept my response very restrained: I simply provided a link to the game store’s website (which presumably convinced you that what I was saying was correct because you responded with an amusing line (inspired by The Empire Strikes Back) in which you jumped into an abyss).  However, I must confess that I found your “That’s a bold face LIE!” remark both baffling and insulting.  I found it baffling because it’s not clear whether you were questioning the truthfulness of my statement that I live in Canada or the truthfulness of my statement that I had purchased a copy of the game.  And I found it insulting – not just because my integrity was apparently being questioned, but also because of the hostile and aggressive way in which your statement was phrased (including the use of all-capitals to type the word “lie”, which is the Internet equivalent of shouting).

Your remark was perhaps just intended to be a joke, so I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt on it – which is why I didn’t express my annoyed reaction at that time.  But since you’ve asked for feedback on the subject, I’m doing so now. Reading and/or posting humourous remarks on a message board can be great fun – I’ve had some wonderful laughs on this board over the years – but online humour requires a certain amount of finesse because it has potential for being taken the wrong way.  This is especially true when it involves remarks which, at face value, sound abusive.  There can be a fine line between being funny and being rude, or between stimulating debate and being needlessly provocative.  That, in my humble opinion, is the interpretative lens through which you might wish to view those anonymous remarks you received.

I mostly find you entertaining. And occassionally insightful.  :-D

I can generally tell sarcasm when I read it. Even on these forums. And I have found that with you sarcasm is usually the best assumption.

You know I’m a fan.

“Asshat” is my new favorite word.

:-)

Well Garg, sometimes I agree with you and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I think you’re an asshole for the sake of being an asshole and sometimes you just seem like an asshole because you’re being direct with no deference to tact. I think of the “consoles are for children” remark in one of the videogame threads. That was pretty much trolling/threadjack/just being an asshole.

Sometimes you come across as just wanting to argue for the sake of arguing. Which is fine except when there isn’t really an argument in the first place and you’re not really making an argument: just throwing out something to see if it gets a reaction. On more than one occasion I’ve thought that you really need to fall off your semen retention program. I’d say you could use a bit more “leave things alone if you don’t have a point to make.”

But then we could all probably use a bit more of that. Mostly I think you are what you are and if I can’t deal with an asshole on the internet then I don’t have any right to be an asshole on the internet. What is the exchange in Die Hard 2? “And here I thought you were an asshole.” “I am. I’m just your kind of asshole”

You’re just not everyone’s kind of asshole.

:-)

@frimmel:

You’re just not everyone’s kind of asshole.

:-)

Well said, as always.

Well garg to put it simply, Who cares, seriously if this is all coming from one guy why do you care? why does it bother you so? me i’d just ignore the dweeb who should have ignored you in the first place so he would not have to hear you prattle on in your inane gibberish (  :wink: ) problem solved and all are happy.

Whenever I read AA.org’s villain, it makes me think of Snidely Whiplash (also Canadian  :-o).

I appreciate absurdity and lighthearted ass-hol-er-y, though I draw the line at abuse of railway property.

Hey Gargantua,
Their head is so far up their arse they cant see, I enjoy your commentary, and havin meet ya your a cool dude.
Only if you give their opinion value does it hurt I dont think it affects  you.
        D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F.F.

Hey Gar, I enjoy most of your posts for the humor and  any kind of strategy you give out. So you post to much sometimes, but I know you need to do something while your in your office all day. I also asked you for advice on how to play Japan for Global 40 one time and you had no problem responding back to me right away. Thanks for advice. I’ve never met you before, but you just tell it like it is. In ways I’m the same way. If people don’t like it to bad. I’m not playing the drama games no more. I would think if it was a problem, one of the moderators would be cuttin you off. OOPS! Hope it wasn’t.

had to vote true on the POLL to even things out and give myself a laugh.

GREAT post by CWO Marc. Well thought out, well written, was clear and concise. If I were grading it I would give it a solid A. No pun intended.

It seems quite obvious that there are very thinned skinned folks out there, really no place for a villain, prankster or joker. I find your sometimes over the top humor funny but I am an unsympathetic, unempathetic, bastard who really doesn’t care to much for others feelings.

So keep up the good work!

By the way CWO Marc bought his silly board game in NYC. He did LIE! INSERT EVIL LAUGH here.

@Gargantua:

With one of exception of course… something I hold oh so dear!

Call me a Techcist but Consoles ARE for Children Frimmel. :) And you can put that on my Tombstone.

This evil plauge of kiddie gamers + mega corporations and their plug n play simplified machinery DESTROYED the world I knew as a child, and is consistent in it’s attempts to eradicate ALL PC Gaming from the face of the earth. (Because the people can get their hands on PC games for Free!) �� This Genocide must be resisted! As the capabilities of PC’s are far beyond those of console’s, but because of an addicted children’s market, when I go to the store to buy a new game, I’m relegated to a selection of 2 shelves in a back corner, sneered at, and despised.

It was not I who was responsible for this attrocity! And it was not I who cast the first stone. �� But it will be I who holds on to my personal truth to the last Frimmel! You must understand without taking offence! �� :P �� I’m in it for my species…

Ahahahahaha!   Excellent!    :lol:

I think your social consequences be that we shun you.

Be ye gone from these forums never to return, under pain of… um… watchingtheCanucksgotogame7ofthefinalsandloseagain!  HA!

As someone one who’s had the enjoyment of fighting you to the death, in full uniform, on a tank (there a pictures, I can prove this happened!) I can say that these statements are false. If you need to change or work on anything it’s on getting a new uniform (come to the dark side, we have cookies, and better boots!) so we can goof around like that next year  :-D

@JWW:

had to vote true on the POLL to even things out and give myself a laugh.

GREAT post by CWO Marc. Well thought out, well written, was clear and concise. If I were grading it I would give it a solid A. No pun intended.

It seems quite obvious that there are very thinned skinned folks out there, really no place for a villain, prankster or joker. I find your sometimes over the top humor funny but I am an unsympathetic, unempathetic, b��t��d who really doesn’t care to much for others feelings.

Ditto on all JWW (and CWO Marc) said.
They also said it very well.

I will add that the typed word can be the most difficult form of communication because it is the hardest to tell ones tone.  In person, I could read your voice inflection or your face or hand gestures to tell when you are being sarcastic.  The typed word, notsomuch.

I have always contended that the internet needs a new font called ‘SARCASM’.  Apparently, after a very quick google search, I find I am not alone in that way of thinking:  http://glennmcanally.com/sarcastic/

good gaming!

@Gargantua:

Below are some “Anonymous” comments and observations I have be graced with via PM recently.

Apparently this person speaks for everyone?  And as the commentary has essentially been condoned, it’s only reasonable that I must consider them validated - and that I must give these thoughts the oppurtunity for public review that they deserve.

Obviously, if these notes are correct, I need to make some cultural adjustments to the nature of my existence on aa.org, and post less etc, but I would like to hear what the fans of the site think?

• you are a real idiot self-hating internet troll…you call this “villain” but everybody calls this asshat.

• you are a troll decide to cause problems.

• you are a moron.

• you obviously had a bad day so go back to the punching bag in your back yard.

• looking at your posts it appears you ran out of ideas on how to keep your post count up since that is great concern for you.

• 90% of your posts are just stupid gibberish random “comedy jokes” that people get tired of because they don’t add to conversation. If you got nothing to say why even post? Just look at all your posts…nonsense and inane drivel.
  (This one is particularily important to hear from you guys on. :) ~ Garg)

• You might want to take your own medicine now.

• YOU ARE FULL OF ���� ( AS USUAL)

• YOU ONLY DO THIS BULLSHIT BECAUSE YOUR PISSED OFF AT ME BECAUSE YOU ARE A LOSER

• YOU ARE A POST COUNT b����, BASICALLY YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY SO YOU POST 30 TIMES WITH STUPID GIBBERISH ‘FUNNY’S’ POSTS    THAT NOBODY REALLY NEEDS TO WASTE THEIR TIME READING.

As you guys all know, I’m always open to criticism and harsh words, so the gloves are off, please provide your own commentary. :D

Gargantua,

I think the above words would describe my general feeling when I started reading your posts. Your comments can be rude, off topic, useless and borderline trolling.
But I realized that you’re just playing the role of the joker, which by its own nature has that affect on some people and I just took you more lightly and realized that there was actually an intelligent and creative person instead of a complete moron.
But yeah, with that kind of attitude you step on some toes. So yes, I think it’s true: you can be like that to people on a first sight. :)